Octopi, Jeebus

You’d think the comment thread for this talk would be mostly people saying, “Wow!” and “Holy crap!” But no, Diane: this is the internets! And here on the ‘nets, we like to argue about the same four things over and over. These things are (in no particular order): global climate change, the existence of god, illegal immigration, and which gaming console offers the best graphics and game library for the money.*

In this case, we’re up to the second batter in our rotation. Here are two choice samples:

“These creatures have an intelligent designer. This is obvious. It also is not surprising that there are those who do not give GOD credit for anything. Sad for them.”

“I personally feel very sorry for those who think there is no God. In perspective, this may be what wrong with our world today. No belief in anything leaves the soul empty. I will pray for you.”

(In perspective..? I will pray to understand what the fuck you are talking about.)

I’d like to ask a simple question of these two commenters, which is this: did you not notice from the talk – which is only a few minutes long and has no complicated scientific terminology to confuse you – that almost all of the neat behavior on display is intended to either help the animal kill some other animal, or to help prevent some other animal from killing it? So let me see if I got this right: your benevolent intelligent designer (a.k.a. god) gave these creatures some really beautiful and complicated features like bioluminescence and camoflage – so they can get along for a few terrifying days longer in a world where animals attack and eat each other in a perpetual undersea bloodbath? God isn’t a gentle artist; he’s a sadist with a giant Warhammer 40K set where all the pewter figurines have nerve endings and are rent to pieces on a regular basis. Neat.

—

* Real, not real, a source of real delicious tacos (zing!), and I wouldn’t dare to offer an opinion on an issue THAT controversial… really.

FBI Listening List

The Devil's Blood, "Come Reap"

Given the band name and album cover, and this blog's musical predilections, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was another death metal band. Actually they're a retro rock/metal band that sounds like the perfect choice to do a new soundtrack for the original "Wicker Man" - somewhere between early Heart, Jethro Tull, and Sabbath, with a serious occult fixation. If we had a time machine and lived in hell this band would be on the radio all day long.

The Soviettes, "LP III"

Yelpy female-fronted punk with close precedents in the frantic, minimalist likes of Wire and Stiff Little Fingers. People who like the original punk bands and are tired of the Warped Tour can find refuge here.

Tiwony, "Viv La Vi"

French creole dancehall from Ethiopia. And really really good, even though I don't understand 2/3 of it. You'll have to Google it - I found it on one obscure legal download site and one seller of French music of all types.

Behemoth, "Evangelion"

Not named after the anime. Behemoth is just a beast in their genre - over-the-top death metal with black metal overtones and a taste for ancient mythology and Egyptian-sounding riffs. I find them a little more accessible than Nile, their kissing cousin both musically and lyrically.